South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is traveling to Germany next week to strengthen business ties that have contributed to the state’s economic success in recent years. The governor will be a guest at the TDI conference, also known as the Day of German Industry, where he will give a keynote speech on South Carolina’s relationships with German companies and participate in a panel discussion, according to South Carolina Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey.
The state has been proactive in attracting foreign companies to the state, which has been crucial to its growth story. South Carolina ranks second in the U.S. in a population-adjusted index that tracks foreign companies with distinct operations in the country. Additionally, Germany has the largest presence in South Carolina, with 262 facilities employing about 44,000 people, making up 2% of the state’s total workforce.
During his five-day visit to Germany, McMaster plans to visit the headquarters of two major automakers with significant investments in South Carolina. In Munich, McMaster will meet with BMW executives, whose plant in Greer has been expanding since 1994, employing over 11,000 workers. This investment helped to attract other foreign automakers to the state, providing economic stability in the face of the decline of the textile industry.
Another stop on McMaster’s itinerary is Wolfsburg, where he will tour Volkswagen headquarters. Volkswagen is the parent company of Scout Motors, which is building a plant near Columbia to manufacture electric SUVs. The plant is expected to open in 2027 and employ up to 4,000 people.
The Commerce Department highlighted the importance of McMaster’s visit
